First of all, I'm totally clueless when it comes to photography, I just got into it. I've a D80, and I'm banging my way through attempting to try and figure out how to work it.

I was taking some shots as a favor for a band that I used to manage. The next morning, after going through the shots, I noticed this.

In this shot, you can only see the drummer, and one member on the other end of the stage; but the other two band members are in the shot too, but nowhere to be seen. The odd thing is that they were right in front of the camera.

 

Do they have superpowers?

 

The other members were moving while the drummer was stationary. With the low light and long exposure, the other members did not reflect enough light into the lens becuase they were moving.

 

You make it sound so perfectly reasonable! Funny to think it was something so simplistic.

 

Ninjas, man.

 

I can only imagine the insanely hysterical moment when you hand over the pics you were snapping of them as a favor, and they aren't in there. Sounds like something I could do!!

 

Here is the exposure info for the photo you posted.....

Exif Sub IFD

* Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 10/25 second = 1/2.5 second = 0.4 second
* Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 45/10 = F4.5
* Exposure Program = n/a (0)
* ISO Speed Ratings = 400
* Exif Version = 0221
* Original Date/Time = 2008:06:26 14:45:16
* Digitization Date/Time = 2008:06:26 14:45:16
* Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
* Compressed Bits per Pixel = 4/1 = 4
* Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/6 = 0
* Max Aperture Value (APEX) = 36/10 = 3.6
Max Aperture = F3.48
* Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
* Light Source / White Balance = unknown (0)
* Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
* Focal Length = 180/10 mm = 18 mm
* Last Modified Subsecond Time = 20;N
* Original Subsecond Time = 20
* Digitized Subsecond Time = 20

The parts in bold are your problem....

The shutter speed is too slow. A moving band member will "ghost" his way out of the photo at that speed. 1/100 is the slowest you can get away with, and ONLY if you drag the shutter (use the flash to expose the band, and then keep the shutter open for a little bit for the ambient light.)

ISO is low for that dim lighting, needs to be in the 800 range.

Finally, the lens you are using needs to be AT LEAST an F2.8 to be able to shoot properly in that sort of light. Those lenses, as you may guess, don't come cheap. To get quality shots in that sort of environment, you are talking about serious skill/proper equipment. Hope that helped, let me know if you need something else explained to you.

_-Dave

 

Just to give you some ideas, there are uses for the ghosting when you want to get creative (and the 'feel' of the shot invites it):

 

NFR, thank you!!!! That is great info and will go a long way to finding out what the learning curve is, not just how much I have to learn.

Blue, those shots are awesome, and precisely what I'd like to get to be able to do.

 

Wow amazing shots!! What camera is that and what lens?